Teucrium cyprium

Τεύκριο το κυπριακό

Etymology of Teucrium cyprium: The Ancient Greek name "Teucrium" [Τεύκριον] was used by Dioscorides for several species in this genus and is assumed to refer to King Teucer [Τεῦκρος] of Troy who used the plant in his medicine; assumed, because there was also another famous Teucer, son of King Telamon of the Island of Salamis, today in Greece. Teucer was a great archer who fought alongside his half-brother, Ajax, in the Trojan War and is the legendary founder of the ancient city of Salamis in Cyprus. It is called "Cyprium" because it was discovered in Cyprus.

At least 10 kinds of Teucrium plants (species and subspecies) have been discovered in the Cypriot habitat so far, of which three of them appear exclusively in occupied Cyprus north.

Teucrium cyprium is a short plant, up to 10 cm, that can be hardly seen. Teucrium Cyprium is known in English as "Cyprus germander". It is a Cyprus indigenous and endemic plant, native only to Cyprus. It is a strongly aromatic species with densely white woolly-haired leaves and bright rose flowers that appear in the summer. It grows in the Troodos Mountains range and the surrounding areas, at an altitude between 425–1925 metres. Its flowering period is around June. There is a substantial population of this species near the Troodos square and on Mount Olympus.